Flies That Catch Trout And Why They Work

Flies That Catch Trout And Why They

Work

A special thank-you to Kevin Howell of Davidson River Outfitters for extending permission to CSRA Fly Fishers to

use this presentation in the furtherance of education about the sport of fly fishing.

• We all have boxes of flies that we carry on every trip. But we always find ourselves fishing the same flies; Why?? because they always produce fish.

• After reviewing our guide records from the past five years, I have condensed my fly selection down to 12 basic flies. Every

one of the 1203 guided trips we performed in 2007, had at least 1 trout caught on at least one of these flies.

Kevin’s Stonefly

• Fishes year round

• My number one fly of all time

• Best sizes 4-12, my favorite size is a #8 on a 4x long hook

• Produced more trout in more places than any other fly, NC, TN, PA, MT, WY, CO

Kevin’s Stonefly

• Designed by Kevin Howell Brevard NC 1985

• Should be heavily weighted I typically use .035 or .040 lead wire

• Rubber legs give realistic movement to fly along with a webby soft hackle around the thorax

• Peacock abdomen makes it have realistic sheen and flash

• My number two producing trout fly.

• Produced 23 trout over 20 inches in 2007 • Best from March to November

• Fish in sizes 6-14 best size is #8 on a 4x long hook

Sheepfly

• Designed by Newland Saunders in Lenoir, NC @1950

• Should be weighted heavily, full shank .030 lead wire

• Dubbing should be a mix of grey rabbit, muskrat, and seal fur or groundhog.

• This dubbing mix will trap air bubbles and release them as it sinks.

Soft Hackle

Pheasant Tail

• Represents 90% of all mayfly larvae • Will always produce one or two fish • Great fly to carry year round

• One of my “go to” flies when you just have to catch a fish

Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail

• Soft hackles have been fished for nearly 200 years

• I fish them from just under the surface, to the bottom of the water column

• Favorite size is a 16 but commonly fish anywhere from a 10-20

• This fly is often over looked by most anglers

Bead Head Rubber Legged Red

Fox Squirrel Nymph

Bead Head Rubber Legged Red Fox

Squirrel Nymph

• Represents both October Caddis Pupa and Mayfly larvae

• Best sizes range from #6-16

• Works well year round, especially effective in spring and fall

Bead Head Rubber Legged Red

Fox Squirrel Nymph

• Designed by Dave Whitlock

• Is the epitome of life in the water. The

dubbing traps air bubbles, the rubber legs catch current and wiggle

• I fish it with both brass and tungsten bead heads.

Anderson’s Bird

of Prey

• Year around cadis pupa, can be tied in brown, green, tan

• Represents 80-90% of all clinging caddis • Best sizes are 10-16 on a scud style hook • My preferred caddis pattern when fish are

Anderson’s Bird of Prey

• Designed by Rick Anderson, Montana @1990

• Soft hackle gives it life like movement

• Can be fished from just under the surface to heavily weighted flies on the bottom of the river

• This fly is carried and used by the majority of guides.

Bill’s Provider

• Exceptional high clear water fly, also great when stoneflies are active

• Best sizes are #6-12 on 4x long hooks • Fish heavily weighted, should be on or

Bill’s Provider

• Designed by Bill Hale, Anderson, SC @1984

• Has the natural sheen of a peacock herl body, large rubber legs for motion, and large webby brown soft hackle

• This fly is ranked 3rd _{on all of the flies that}

Parachute

Adams

• Can successfully be used to imitate 75% of all mayfly duns

• I use sizes 8-26, most common sizes sold are 14, 16 and 18

Parachute Adams

• Sets low in the water compared to

traditional Catskill patterns making it look trapped or wounded

• Has been used successfully for at least 50 years

• Top dry fly from guide records

• Can be used for all of these flies, Blue

Wing Olive, Quill Gordon, Blue Dun, Blue Quill, Slate Drake, …………

Bead Head

Prince Nymph

• Represents both caddis pupa and micro stone fly larvae

• Best sizes are 8-18, 14 and 16 are most common sizes

Bead Head Prince Nymph

• The prince nymph has been fished successfully for at least 50 years

• One fly that I never leave the shop without, especially effective on rivers that have

Taylor’s Fat

Albert

• Represents both dry stoneflies, and large land born insects that may get blown into the water

• Sizes range from #6-14 I have found 10-12 to be the size for most applications in our area

Taylor’s Fat Albert

• Number one terrestrial pattern from our guide service.

• Has been fished heavily for the last 4-5 years.

• Key is to have large rubber legs and use a different color of thread, usually red for

Howell’s Simple

Bunny

• Can be tied in any color to match any baitfish • Size ranges from a #1 to #10

• I typically fish small 6-10 in the winter and early spring, 4-6 in late spring and summer

• 1-6 in fall

• Heavy lead eyes are key to keeping the fly on the bottom of the river.

Howell’s Simple Bunny

• Designed by Kevin Howell in 1998

• Number one streamer, from guide service records

• Needs to be fished deep in the water column

• Can be stripped slow or fast

• Has exceptional life and movement in the water

Furry Foam

Inchworm

• Represents Inchworms, caterpillars, and green rock worms commonly found in the southeast

• Typically tied in size 10 or 12

• Has many spin-offs, green weenie, green latex worm, green San Juan worm

Furry Foam Inchworm

• Can be fished in all depths of the water column

• Is our number one selling and producing fly from June –Sept.

San Juan Worm

• There are over 400 species of aquatic worms

• Also represents earth worms that may get washed into the river

San Juan Worm

• Can be effective in all depths of the water column

• Tons of effective colors, my best colors are Flesh, Worm Brown, Red, Fl. Pink

• Works great in off colored and high water • Don’t be afraid to fish larger sizes

Good Luck!!